The Descent into Hell Second Edition, Revised and Re-arranged, with an Analysis and Notes: To which are added, Uriel, a Fragment and Three Odes. By John A. Heraud |
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 | The Descent into Hell |  |
I.1.
The Good die young, yet have not lived in vain;
For Wisdom is the grey hair unto men,
A spotless Life old age: how great their gain!
For Wisdom is the grey hair unto men,
A spotless Life old age: how great their gain!
Beloved of God, oh, most beloved then;
Translated from amidst a sinful race,
Soon perfect, why should they be proved agen?
Translated from amidst a sinful race,
Soon perfect, why should they be proved agen?
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So Enoch walked with God, and saw his face,
For God esteems his Chosen, and his Saints
Shall seek and find his mercy and his grace.
For God esteems his Chosen, and his Saints
Shall seek and find his mercy and his grace.
The People saw, but held in base restraints,
They understood not, how he will reward
Love that fears not, and Faith that never faints.
They understood not, how he will reward
Love that fears not, and Faith that never faints.
I.2.
Ye understood not, or did not regard,
Who from yon Hill of Speculation came,
Patriarch and Sage, with Prophet, Priest and Bard,
Who from yon Hill of Speculation came,
Patriarch and Sage, with Prophet, Priest and Bard,
Old men and young, by Beauty set-aflame,
From the voluptuous Daughters of the Plain,
Each heart devote on its selected Dame,
From the voluptuous Daughters of the Plain,
Each heart devote on its selected Dame,
Though Lady of the Line of cursed Cain.
Musick and Song delight the Ear..the Eye
Is ravished with the Dance though graceful, vain—
Musick and Song delight the Ear..the Eye
Is ravished with the Dance though graceful, vain—
Vain, idle, tempting Lust with Melody
And Motion exquisite, lures for the sense,
Nor fraught with ill if tempered holily.
And Motion exquisite, lures for the sense,
Nor fraught with ill if tempered holily.
But oft with these the Hours of Sin commence,
And from her Mount of Vision drag the Soul,
To waste her strength in wanton feculence.
And from her Mount of Vision drag the Soul,
To waste her strength in wanton feculence.
I.3.
Sin grows gigantick; Force, without control,
Usurps the Seat of Justice. Evil thrives
From length of years, and reaches its far goal.
Usurps the Seat of Justice. Evil thrives
From length of years, and reaches its far goal.
Oh! heaven-born Science! what of thee survives?
Ill only, all the Good is purged away—
Knowledge but from the Visible derives
Ill only, all the Good is purged away—
Knowledge but from the Visible derives
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The intellectual elements, that may
Inflate, but cannot fatten, whom they feed;
And demon-pride pervades the night and day,
Inflate, but cannot fatten, whom they feed;
And demon-pride pervades the night and day,
The mystick rite of a corrupted Creed,
Strange divination of strange gods begot,
The accursed Art, the unutterable Deed!
Strange divination of strange gods begot,
The accursed Art, the unutterable Deed!
| The Descent into Hell | |